Itinerary

Optional pre-tour seminar - Thursday 16 February 2012
Click here to read more about the optional pre-tour seminar.

Friday 17 February 2012
Arrive in Darwin

Upon arrival you will be met by your Tour Manager and transferred to the hotel.

Welcome dinner at the hotel - 7.00pm

Seminar 1 - 8.15pm - Brad Manera - World War 2 1939-45: An overview of Australia’s role in Europe and the Pacific

Saturday 18 February 2012  
 

Morning sightseeing tour of Darwin including:

• Stokes Hill
• Fort Hill Wharf
• World War II oil storage tunnel
• Christchurch Cathedral
• Government and Parliament House

Seminar 2 - 3pm - Tom Lewis - NT under attack: 1942 air and submarine attacks and introduction to war heritage sites, including Darwin Military Museum

Seminar 3 - 4pm - Brad Manera - The impact of World War 2 on Australia and Australians generally - Invasion threat (real or otherwise), government reaction and policy, social impact, US in Australia, etc.

A sunset cruise 5.45pm in the evening

Evening - Free time for dinner

Sunday 19 February 2012    

70th Anniversary Bombing of Darwin celebrations

Today we join the township of Darwin for the service and celebrations of the 70th Anniversary of the Bombing of Darwin. 

The official ceremony commences at 9.30am, with the air raid siren sounding at 9.58am, the exact same time it sounded on 19 February 1942. A flyover and flypast of military aircraft will also take place followed by an Australian Defence Force re-enactment of gun and artillery fire, the Catafalque party and formal commemorative proceedings including a wreath laying ceremony. The official commemoration will conclude at 10.45am. (from Frontline Australia Program of Events)

The rest of the day will be left free of set tour events.

Monday 20 February 2012   

Morning

• Darwin Military Museum, situated in the East Point Nature Reserve. The grounds of the museum cover a coastal battery, observation towers, bunkers and gun positions dating back from the time of the war.
• Defence of Darwin Experience, adjacent to the Darwin Military Museum. Opening officially only two days earlier on 18 February this is an interactive exhibition space that tells the story of the Bombing of Darwin through an immersive, multi-media experience from the period 1932 to 1945. Clik here for more information.

Afternoon

• Australian Aviation Heritage Centre on the outskirts of the city along the Stuart Highway.
• Seminar 4-6 at the Northerm Territory Library - 4-7pm
   - Tom Lewis - The war in other states and at sea: WA (including Broome), Queensland, Sydney, Newcastle
   - Brad Manera - World War 1: An overview of the war and Australia’s role in the Empire under threat.
   - Shauna Hicks - Tracing Military Ancestors

Evening - Free time for dinner

Tuesday 21 February 2012
Full day touring and sightseeing

• Important airfields (the number of airfield visits will be dependent on road conditions)
• Snake Creek Explosives Storage Dump
• Adelaide River Cemetery
• Visit the Adelaide River Rail Heritage Precinct
• Lunch at own expense at the Adelaide River Hotel

Evening - Farewell dinner

Wednesday 22 February 2012  
Depart Darwin

Tour ends this morning after breakfast with a transfer to Darwin Airport.

Optional post-tour event: Click here to read more about the optional tours to Litchfield & Kakadu national parks.